Check out this video explaining what makes human faces so special and how this relates to a European robotics project
Our faces paint a portrait of our inner emotions for the rest of the world to see. Whether we like it or not, our facial expressions give others information about the way we are feeling. A stranger’s smile might cause you to smile back and start a friendly conversation with them during a ride on the metro, while another’s scowl might be a good indicator they’re not in the mood to talk. As subtle as these non-verbal cues may seem,
they’re loaded with information that plays a huge role in our lives.
What will happen when robots assist us in our daily lives, in hospitals, our communities or even in our homes and how can we foster succesful long-term relationships with them? As part of the The LIREC project (Living with Robots and Interactive Companions), Peter McOwan and his team from Queen Mary, University of London and University College London aim to create robots that will be socially aware by breaking down human facial movements and investigating the way our brains perceive them.